Aaand, I'm back

Hey guys, a thousand apologies for my absence from the blogosphere. I MISSED YOU GUYS SO MUCH! I have missed blogging, and I've missed the community. I've of course been a silent viewer of all your blogs, so the hype of MAC Face & Body  and UD Naked has not eluded me. No worries there, I want them very badly. But now onto an explanation.

At first, I had to slow down because my computer died on me. After that, I had my in-laws stay with me for the summer, which was lovely because they are so easy-going, but that meant that I chose to spend my evenings and weekends with them rather than blogging. But neither of those excuses really can stop me from blogging if I'm REALLY passionate about saying something. To be honest, at the core of my writer's block was a fundamental shift in my attitude towards make-up. I don't want to get too deep and serious about this, because its only makeup, but honestly, I am just not a makeup collector. I will never be like those YouTube gurus with walk-in closets filled with MAC pigments. I'm more like a makeup curator. I believe that a small but carefully edited collection of products is far more valuable and enjoyable than owning every NYX Jumbo Pencil under the sun. So this summer, I parted with a huge amount of makeup, most of which I shared with my sister and friends but some of which went into Mr. Garbage. I was so happy to give away these items because they were just not working on me or I didn't use them, so it was nice to spread the love. If I show you guys my makeup collection now, you'll probably all laugh (it all fits into regular traincase with room to spare). But I'm happy because having a small collection with no duplicates means that I finish up products while they are fresh, and I can guiltlessly buy new products to replace them if they are not HG material. Case in point: I've hit pan on my Studio Fix Powder Foundation  and my Colorstay is about to run out as well. I will probably repurchase the SF, but Colorstay may be replaced with something new, like Face & Body now that my skin has cleared up (separate post on that to come soon!).

Anyway, I have finally gotten around to taking pictures of some wonderful July/August favorites, so stay tuned for that post, which will be coming out very soon. Thanks for sticking with me guys. :-)

I need your opinion!

Yours truly is turning another year older in less than a month. But before I get into the post, how amazing is this Hello Kitty cake?!?!

Anyway, heavy hints have been dropped to the hubs that I'd, of course, love to have a mad makeup spree. Aah gone are the days when a little Borders gift card would suffice. So to to make the most of this, I have a general idea of what I want, but I want you, my awesome readers, to advise me on what exactly I should purchase. Here's what I'm thinking:

1. What drugstore mascara should I buy? I am eyeing Maybelline Full n Soft or L'Oreal Voluminous. Any other holy grails I'm unaware of?
2. I'm loving MAC's All Ages All Races, All Sexes Collection thanks to JulieG's video! What items do you  love from this collection?
3. I need more OPI and China Glaze in my life. What would you suggest that is pink/nude?
4. I'm tempted to haul from NYX's $1 sale, but after checking on both the NYX and Cherry Culture websites, I can't find the sale anywhere. Can someone please send silly me a link to it?

On a side note, I'm really really happy to have reached 187 subscribers. My goal is to hit 200 and then hold a giveaway! You guys are the best; I find myself thinking of my giveaway everytime I'm wandering around the mall, CCO or drugstore. I hope I can hit that goal soon and thank you all properly! Happy weekend everyone!

My Favorites Tag

I read a post by ..that's peachy on this tag today, so since she's tagged everyone here's my lazy Friday post:

Colour - white. I know that's not technically a color, but its my favorite.

Animal - bunnies!! 

Band - I haven't cared about bands since high school, but Coldplay is pretty awesome.
Singer - Shreya Ghoshal
Song - "Someone exactly like you" by Van Morrison. (1st song at my wedding!)

Film- Currently its Running with Scissors
Food - Sushi
Drink - G&Ts baby
Restaurant - Barcelona (best steak and gaucho sausages EVER)
Shop - REI
Website - You Suck at Craigslist
Magazine - Martha Stewart Living (damn you, epitome of perfection!)
Sport - College Football (American)
Team - Florida Gators (Gooo Gators!)
TV Program - The Office (mmmm, Jim...)

Place - Florida, USA. It's home sweet home
Season - Summer. 
Beauty Product - MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation (I should really compose an ode for it)
Hair Product - Organix shampoos and conditioners
Make Up brand - MAAAAAAAAAAAAC (again...ode...)

Perfume -Chanel Allure

I tag all my followers to do it (especially if you're feeling lazy and don't want to do a picture-filled in-depth product review today). Happy Friday everyone!

In and Out #3

I feel un-makeup-y today. There's something about January that puts me in a contemplative mood and takes me away from the comfortable materialistic thoughts of my usual life. So let me just scratch the surface of these thoughts with an in and out post.


In:

Getting to know my country's history. As an Indian raised almost entirely in the USA, my knowledge of my origins is abysmally embarrassing. I don't know the Guptas from the Moryas (does anyone?!). So I'm lately reading tomes on my country's cultural roots. In a nutshell, there were a lotta invaders.

Getting to know my local library! How come no one goes to local libraries anymore? They've become so pimped out these days! If everyone went, places like Barnes & Nobles and NetFlix would run for cover. I just checked out a DVD of The American President. Next DVDs on the list are Marie Antoinette and Running With Scissors.

Rosewater: I have filled a travel-size spray bottle (from Target) with rosewater, and use it to spritz my super-dry face throughout the day. Take that Fix+!
(ok I still want you cuz I'm a MAC slave, but I will play hard-to-get darn it!)


Out 


Not knowing which drugstore mascara to buy: Maybe you guys can turn this Out into an In by telling me. I just finished my tube of Define-A-Lash lengthening formula. What should be next? I want volume AND length and I want it to be drugstore!

Chippy tips: Let me explain. The tips of my nails always chip off their nail color in 1 day after I've applied them with great love and care. WTF am I doing wrong? (before you ask, I do use a topcoat)


That's enough moaning for a day. I'll get off the soapbox now. Just had itchy fingers and wanted to rant to you guys. Sorry, no useful information this time. I guess this was a "Juicystar07 vlog" style post. ;)

Going Vegan: 18 days in

It's been several days since my last update on being vegan, so I thought I'd rave and complain about it once again to you all. Honestly, this diet has some major pros and some major cons. On the plus side, I'm fitting into my super skinny jeans again! You know that pair that you have in the back of your closet, that you fear and loathe because you just can't get into it no matter how much you suck it all in? Well, I have two Sevens that fit that description, and as of yesterday, I can comfortably fit into both! I haven't weighed myself yet because I want to only weigh myself once--after this is all said and done, on Feb. 12th. But regardless, I can feel that I've lost some weight, and that is super exciting 18 days in!

I think one of the main reasons I've lost weight is because veganism has practically made me eliminate desserts and junk food from my diet. It seems as though every kind of dessert and snack out there has some kind of dairy product, from cheese, to cream or milk. I'm pretty much eating 3 meals a day and nothing in between.

Now for the downside. My dinners are usually quite filling and satisfying because I make vegan Indian meals, which consist of rotis, vegetables, a small salad, and a bit of chutney. But honestly, my breakfast and lunch are just not that nutritious and wholesome. For breakfast, I have 2 packets of oatmeal with soymilk and black coffee. Not filling or super-nutritious. And for lunch, if I don't have any leftover Indian food to take to work, I'm stuck with buying a vegan burrito with chips and salsa. So I'm basically eating very little for breakfast, and a ton of carbs for lunch. Not good.

The other downside is that veganism requires a lot of preparation. There's no busy-night excuse. I once had a busy night where I didn't have time to prepare any dinner, and I was left with making myself a small strawberry-banana-soymilk smoothie for dinner. I guess it wasn't enough because I ended up with a hunger headache. :(

I definitely think I have the stamina to keep my vegan diet going until Feb. 12th, but after that, I'd like to re-incorporate foods that I think are beneficial, but in small quantities. The main things I want to incorporate are cheese, yogurt, and fish. I'm still on the fence about whether I want to be a pescetarian going forward, or just have no "labels", and be a disciplined eater. Thoughts anyone? Or tips on how to be a vegan and still get wholesome, nutritonal meals?

Where have I been?

Hey guys, sorry I've been MIA for the last few days. I just about had time to put up a couple of posts on my nails and the giveaway posts. Work has been crazy to the point that I basically went in, started working and before I knew it, the day had ended and I didn't even have time to take lunch, let alone check my email! Also my hubby completed his last class for his Masters in Computer Science degree this week, and yours truly was helping him write his final paper in a classic panic-procrastination mode. ;)

Anyway, I'm back and ready for more posts. I still have to write reviews on all of the products from my Thanksgiving haul, so be on the look out for that.

Hope you all are having a lovely holiday season. Here in the northeast of USA, we have been hit with a winter storm on one of the busiest Christmas shopping weekends (I imagine a lot of Santa Clauses are going to be unhappy). I'm enjoying my time at home blogging and enjoying my new tree. Here it is:

Will be back soon with more product reviews! Wow I missed blogging a lot. ;)

What's in my Bag?

Hey guys, the lovely LotionsPotionsandMe (how cute is that name) recently interviewed me to find out what's in my makeup bag. The interview all about my blog's philosophy and what are the products I seriously cannot live without. There is a glass ball in the Hall of Prophecies with my name, and it says that I cannot live while Fluidline is not in my purse. So go check her out. Her blog is a wonderful place for honest reviews, interviews of other bloggers, and much more! She's a really sweet girl too, I loved chatting with her and e-mailing her my little rant. 

Thank you + Survey!

I want to say a big thank you to all my followers for taking an interest in my bloggy blog! I can't believe I've reached over 30 followers,. I am amazed at the sense of community here. Writing about makeup and skincare is such a great outlet for me as my day job is anything but girly. So as a way for me to know you guys better, please fill out this wee survey and post in the comments below.

1. Favorite makeup line?
2. Your favorite weekend pampering session? 
3. What are the three makeup items you can't live without?
4. What are three items you're lusting over right now? They can be makeup, skincare, or nails.
5. What kinds of blog posts do you love the most and why (haul, product review, DIY, tag, etc.)?
6. If you have your own blog, when did you get started, and why?

Here are my answers:

Favorite makeup line? MAC

Favorite weekend pampering session? 

Threading eyebrows, DIY mask (aspirin or besan/yogurt/honey), manicure, and a makeup haul. ;)

What are the three makeup items you can't live without?

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation, Maybelline Define-A-Lash, Merle Norman Super Lube (lip balm)

What are three items you're lusting over right now? They can be makeup, skincare, or nails.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation, Dermatologica Daily Microfoliant, OPI Barefoot in Barcelona

What kinds of blog posts do you love the most and why (haul, product review, DIY, tag, etc.)?

DIY skincare cuz they're so effective, cheap, and fun, and all-natural.

If you have your own blog, when did you get started, and why?

I got started by wanting to learn about how to do my own makeup for my wedding this last summer. So I watched hundreds of YouTube videos and even read books by professionals in the industry about makeup and skincare. A week before my wedding, I was totally broken out, and Michelle Phan's aspirin mask literally rescued me! So I decided to pass on the good and share my tips and tricks on skincare and makuep. I have to say that the blogging community has taught me so much. In the last 3 months, I have had the best skin and makeup of my life. :)

Have a lovely week and hope to see your comments soon!

Who are your style icons?

Style: Pronunciation: \ˈstī(-ə)l a distinctive manner of expression or conducting oneself; a particular mode of living; in fashion: elegance beauty, grace, or ease of manner or technique

So ladies, which women do you want to be like? Not just their clothes and looks, but their presence, everything they stand for, the whole package of fabulosity? My style icons not only guide my clothing decisions, but also how I try to present myself to the world through my actions.

Aishwarya Rai

Crowned queen of the Indian cinema, the former Miss World just takes my breath away. Every single feature is not only perfectly proportional, but each one is stunning in its own right. Her eyes of course steal the show for me, they're just so big and mesmerizing. On top of her looks, I find that her choices in her film roles are always regal, classy, and timeless. If I could look like any one person, it would be her.

Lucy Liu

Lucu Liu is spunk personified. She's got a delicate frame and feminine features, but her roles in films like Kill Bill and Charlie's Angels betrays a tomboy side that is anything but delicate. I just love how she represents the yin and yang equally in these two movies--the yin being her delicate beauty, the yang being her ass-kicking personality.

Padma Lakshmi

Padma has such an approachable beauty. She's just perfectly symmetrical, nothing too crazy in her features. But her height (5'9") really amps up the volume on that quiet beauty. She just commands attention when she walks into a room with those neverending legs and it seems that any, any outfit looks good on her. She would make sweat pants look like high fashion.

Ana Ivanovic

One of the best tennis players in the world, the former #1 has the added gift of natural beauty. I love that beauty is a part of her--she doesn't get dictated by it. It's just there. And that only seems to bring it out even more. Even in her multiple covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair, Ana presents herself as comfortable, chic, and effortlessly beautiful. 

Kate Winslet

Besides the fact that her amazing skin tone and features make her look like a Renaissance painting come to life, Kate is an incredible actress. The roles she chooses are as diverse as they can get (Titanic, Quills, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). But what makes her a style icon for me is that she really exudes intelligence and a sense of mystery. Her celebrity status is only one aspect of her. It seems that there's a whole other side that is far more private. I love that mysterious quality. It's really what makes women, women.

So there you have it. My I'm-secure-enough-to-swoon-over-women list. Now I tag you all to share who are your style icons and why!

On being informed consumers

There's been a lot of drama on YouTube lately. Instead of everyone taking sides on the issue, I think it would be far better to just learn from the experience and move on. This experience has taught me that I need to be a wary and informed consumer when seeking advice on YouTube.

      My sincere hope is that the beauty community eventually agrees on a standardized set of ethical guidelines about honesty on whether a product is a promotional gift, or an item they have actually bought. OxfordJasmine recently made a pledge of honesty to her followers. How fabulous is that?

      So let's just learn from the experience and move on to more interesting things like makeup. Here I want to share some commonsense tips on how to spot whether a haul or rave video is featuring a promotional product, or an item that has actually been bought. These tips are not hard and fast rules, they're just signs to look out for when you're seeking beauty advice:

• If someone is doing a video on a massive haul of products from a company (especially online company) that you've never heard of, it may be a promotional video. Obviously online companies like Coastal Scents, Sigma, and Elf are now well known, but I'm talking about totally new companies.
• If a price has not been mentioned, or the guru has not explicitly stated that they in fact paid for it, it might be a promo.
• Look around YouTube and Makeupalley for reviews of the same products the guru talked about. If no one else has reviewed it yet, chances are the company is new and is trying to promote itself.

There is nothing wrong with a guru being paid to give their opinion about a product. It's great that they are so successful, and are making a buck doing what they love. So now, the onus is upon us as consumers to take these steps:

• If you want to try out a brand new company's products, order $10 worth of items from them and see if you like it. If you hate it, at least you didn't blow a fortune on rubbish. Consider it a trial fee.
• Curb your instinct to purchase every single thing that a popular guru suggests. I know it's hard, but watching hauls helps me live vicariously through others. I set a monthly budget for makeup. If I'm drooling over something, I sleep on it, and then ask myself the next day if I still want it. Chances are, the thrill will have died down and I will think rationally. However, if I'm still thinking about it for a solid week, and it's within my monthly budget, I go for it.

PS. My blog is far too new to receive free promotional products, but just to put out the disclaimer, all of my reviews to date have been things I've bought. If the day comes when I am given products to review, I will be perfectly honest about it. In fact I'll brag about it. ;)

Book Rave: Style on a Shoestring

Juggling multiple obsessions with makeup, skincare, and accessories is hard (insert sad violin music). Sure, there are greater obstacles to overcome in life (defend thesis, learn how to do taxes), but when you're hooked on weekend retail therapy, smart-shopping can be a life wallet marriage saver. Enter Andy Paige's Style on a Shoestring. You guys have to check out this book. I devoured the entire thing at Borders over the weekend. This little gem basically shows you how to dress well while landing a great bargain. Here are a few really neat tips:

•  Buy bras in February and bathing suits in May. That's when they are on sale nationwide.
• Go to stores like TJ Maxx on Wednesdays. That's when their weekend markdowns begin, and you avoid crowds. 
• Opt for rich colors like peacock blue or burgundy over paler colors. That way even a bargain find looks richer simply because of the color.
• Accessorize with colors that are complementary to your outfit's color. Like if you wear a coral dress, go for turquoise jewelry or a turquoise clutch. That's a a lot more unexpected and chic.
• When shopping at consignment stores, establish a relationship with the store clerks. That way they will be happy to call you when something interesting comes in. Also, sell your own stuff at the end of a season. That way you can shop there on store credit!

You can also check out Andy Paige's website here. I especially like her section called "Worth every cent". It reviews products that are pricey but totally worth it. I hope this helps all you frugal fashionistas out there. Happy shopping!